Denton County Living Well Magazine January/February 2020 | Page 42

DISTRESSING ANXIETY SYMPTOMS—
SOME YOU MIGHT NEVER EXPECT
I
By Kimberly Blaker
hyperventilation is a common response leading your
body to feel it isn’t getting enough oxygen. As a
magine, out of the blue, you feel your brain spin 180
result, you might experience frequent yawning.
degrees at lightning speed as if fueled by an electrical
• Phantom smell Phantosmia, an olfactory
current. This bizarre feeling isn’t lightheadedness,
hallucination, sometimes occurs with anxiety. It
dizziness, or anything you’ve ever experienced. You
can cause you to smell something that isn’t there,
panic and wonder, ‘Am I going crazy?’ Or worse, ‘Am
or rather, a neutral smell becomes unpleasant.
I going to die?’ You try to brush it off when suddenly, it
• Brain shivers or zaps Most often, this bizarre
happens again.
sensation is caused by antidepressants or withdrawal
from them. However, sometimes it’s associated with
anxiety. Brain shivers can range from mild to severe
According to the National Institute of Mental Health,
and feel different from person-to-person, though they
nearly one in five Americans will experience an anxiety
usually last only a brief time. Brain shivers or zaps,
disorder in a given year. What’s more, there are over 100
explains anxietycentre.com, can feel like an electrical
possible symptoms, many of which you’d never expect to
jolt or a shaking, vibration, or tremor in the brain,
be caused by anxiety. For that reason, when they occur,
• Phantom
vibrations If you’ve ever felt
they often exacerbate anxiety because of the worry
your
phone
vibrate, only to discover it didn’t,
caused by the symptoms.
attachment
anxiety
may be the cause. This is

a genuine phenomenon, according to a study
reported by the University of Michigan in 2016.
• Tremors Anxiety
can cause numerous types
The following are some of the more bizarre symptoms of
of
tremors.
In
addition
to shaking or trembling,
anxiety, though most are not uncommon. If you experience
other
typical
forms,
according
to calmclinic.
symptoms that persist, seek medical attention to rule out
com,
include
arm
or
leg
spasms,
cramping,
a medical cause since all the symptoms of anxiety can
or
longer
or
slower
shaking
than
usual.
also be associated with various medical conditions.
• Derealization This experience feels like not being
in reality. Anxietybc.com says it can be experienced
• Indigestion Anxiety can cause temporary or
in several ways. You may feel disconnected from the
even chronic indigestion. Burping, passing gas,
world and people around you, sort of like being in
diarrhea, and heartburn can all be symptoms.
a dream state. You may have a distorted perception
• Phantom ringing Tinnitus, which is a ringing in
of space, time, and the size of
the ears, can be a sign of
things. Everything might feel
stress or anxiety and can be
foggy or fuzzy or that you’re
experienced in several ways.
YOU MAY FEEL DISCONNECT-
very ill or going crazy.
According to anxietycentre.
• Globus hystericus With this
com, you may hear buzzing,
ED FROM THE WORLD AND
anxiety symptom, it feels like a
ringing, humming, whizzing,
PEOPLE AROUND YOU, SORT
chirping, roaring, swooshing,
lump in your throat, or you might
OF LIKE BEING IN A
have difficulty swallowing. Some
or any number of other sounds.
people also feel a tightness in
• Burning sensation This
their throat.
unusual anxiety symptom
• Eye problems Blurred
can be felt on your skin, lips,
vision, dilated pupils,
tongue, and even in your eyes.
watery eyes, and shapes that float in front of
It can feel like a sunburn despite no sunburn being
the eyes can all be a result of anxiety.
present, a prickling sensation, or even shooting sparks.
• Skin rashes Stress can cause hives, itching,
• Heart irregularities Skipped heartbeats,
and rashes. If you already have rosacea or
palpitations, or a racing heart can all be symptoms
of anxiety. What’s so troublesome is that it can
psoriasis, anxiety and stress can exaggerate it.
be difficult to tell the difference between heart
• Shooting pains You may experience
these in several areas of your body,
irregularities caused by anxiety versus a heart attack.
including your face, abdomen, arms, and
When in doubt, seek medical treatment right away.
chest during episodes of anxiety.
• Physical numbness or tingling These feelings
• Freezing
hands and feet Stress and
can occur in your hands, feet, arms, legs, or
anxiety
can
decrease circulation. As a
face. It may also feel like physical weakness.
• Excessive yawning. During anxiety attacks,
result, your hands and feet may feel icy.
UNUSUAL SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY
DREAM STATE.